MOVEMENT SCIENCE

If you do not receive an email confirmation DIRECTLY after booking the booking has not gone through (Check spam). If unsure, please text me. Our first session is super busy. To save time and make things way more efficient, I've developed an interactive form specific to your injury. New patients, please fill this in after you've booked. It will only take 5 mins.

Bookings

Online Booking

Click on the button.

Select a time - if none are available on a day, it is fully booked

Follow the prompts and enter your information (you will not have to do so again). There are 3 sets of info.

Information is private and confidential and no 3rd parties have access

You will be sent an automatic email confirmation. IF NOT repeat the above or contact.

To save time in the future, simply click remember me or enter the unique online booking code you will receive with your confirmation email.

Access the online bookings system by clicking the button below to see rates

Address

29 Derry Street, Vredehoek

I'm not situated in the Healthjunction Building

To access the rooms, walk along the driveway between Healthjunction and Bella Italia (see images below)

The brown double doors on the left are the practice

Please note there is currently no waiting room set up.

If you are early, take a seat at one of the many surrounding restaurants and enjoy a cup of coffee

I have given 15 min lead time per patient so you can come straight through at your designated appointment time. I seldomly run late but will contact you directly if I do

If you do not receive an email confirmation DIRECTLY after booking the booking has not gone through (Check spam). If unsure, please text me.

Look for the driveway between Bella Italia (27 Derry) and Healthjunction (29 Derry)

Walk to the end and I’m in the double brown doors on the left

ABOUT

“Regarding Physiotherapy, people tend to focus on and think purely from a treatment perspective. With the majority of situations treatment is a small facet. Management is the keyword. What to do when. What to avoid. What rehab is necessary. These are the factors that ensure success.”

Iain Sykes qualified as a physiotherapist from UCT in 2003. After a brief stint overseas and a year of further studies (OMT1) while working in Durban he returned to Cape Town and joined Helene Simpson and the team at the Sports Injuries Centre on UCT upper campus in 2009.

During his 7 years in the dynamic environment of SIC, Iain honed his skills in effectively managing athletes of all calibres. Being based on campus exposed him to a wide variety of sporting codes including slightly less mainstream sports such as rowing, powerlifting, climbing, capoeira, fencing etc. This vast diversity of sports brought with them an equally diverse spread of injuries. This diversity and the thought process required, has been invaluable in terms of assessing and successfully managing sport and non sport related injuries.

The most essential criteria in the management of all injuries is to quickly and effectively diagnose the structures involved and the extent of the injury as well as the underlying reason for the injury including: training history, previous injuries, biomechanical discrepancies, equipment etc. Iain’s treatment is focussed on maximum education as to what is going on and the minimum physiotherapy intervention with a marked focus on rehab (also limited to as few exercises as possible!) as well as correction of equipment and training errors. Rather than complete rest, where possible exercise load is modified or exercise dynamics are changed to keep the individual as fit and mobile as possible.

Not everything can be conservatively managed and over the years Iain has developed an excellent working relationship with a number of top (largely orthopedic) specialist if further intervention and investigation is required. He is however in no way directly affiliated to any surgeons.

Iain’s lecturing career has largely focused on post grad physiotherapists and since 2009 has had lectured a number of topics including: taping and strapping techniques, Tendon Pathology and management as well as a number of modules for SPT1 (a year long post graduate physiotherapy course focused on sport). In more recent times Iain has begun to lecture trainers, coaches and as running shop employees to provide greater knowledge in their respective fields. Lecturing, particularly post graduate, involves constantly reading and evaluating the latest research to prevent oneself getting taken to pieces in front of the class! This up to date and constantly expanding knowledge base is integrated into Iain’s daily management of patients.

From a sporting perspective Iain is an avid surfer and runner. He has completed the two oceans ultra marathon twice but is more partial to trail running with a number of longer trail events under his belt including the 2016 Cedeburg Traverse 100km.

Iain is passionate about Physio and this shines through in his practice. Professionally, he enjoys working with people and athletes of all calibers and from all walks of life. Special interests lie in the management of running related injuries and tendon pathology but as mentioned previously he has a wealth of experience across a diversity of areas and not only focused on the sporting arena.

testimonials

Meg Mackenzie

Iain has given me incredible support through all the ups and downs of my running career. His extensive knowledge and evidence based approach to training and injury have been of immense value to me. I look forward to many more years of big achievements!

Bryony McCormick

I first visited Iain after a series of unsuccessful attempts at fixing my injury, and arrived at his rooms frustrated and unable to run more than 2km without pain. After a thorough assessment, Iain pulled out his anatomy book and explained what and where the problem was, which was the first time a Physio had ever taken the time to do so. Once I understood where the problem originated from, he told me that he could relieve the symptoms, (ITB), but that to run pain free I’d have to get stuck in and strengthen the weaknesses that were causing the injury. So instead of simply releasing the tight muscles on a weekly basis and pocketing the cash, he gave me a rehab plan and instructions that would work to fix the real problem and sent me on my way. He made it clear that fixing the injury would require both of us doing work, which I really appreciated. The injury was significant so the road to recovery was long, but with intermittent visits to Iain for muscle release and hard work on rehab, several months after that first visit I was running pain free. Now, two years later and I have several ultras including the Himalayan 100 miler and SkyRun 100km under my belt. Not only did he get me back on the trails, he helped me understand so much about my body, its capabilities and weaknesses, which have made me a better runner today!”

Richard Saunders

For five years Iain has kept me running healthily and with steadily-improving performances. As a mature long-distance runner I have been prone to a succession of injuries and physical limits: with the appearance of each new one, Iain has risen to the challenge by drawing on his remarkable diagnostic knowledge and intuitive, common-sense approach to treatment. Iain’s support has been a critical factor in my progression from a Sunday morning jogger in 2010 to a Boston Marathon qualifier in 2017. He deserves a finisher’s medal for getting me speedily, happily and healthily across the line each time!

Paula Marais

Almost two years after major hip surgery, I was told by my various specialists that it was most likely I would never be able to walk again without the aid of at least one crutch. I could not walk the smallest distance without resting. I was very unsteady on my feet, despondent and in more pain than I care to remember. But then a friend recommended Iain Sykes and my life took a turn. Iain is a rockstar – no exaggeration. He promised me he would get me walking again and although it didn’t happen quickly, it did happen. We had setbacks, we moved forward, and throughout the ordeal Iain was a beacon during a very, very tough time in my life. Iain is always honest about what one can expect. He keeps his promises. He is a true carer. He deals with each patient as an individual. I could not recommend him more highly. I can say without any question of a doubt that without Iain I would not be walking now. In fact, recently I climbed Paarl Rock without any crutch at all. I cannot thank Iain enough for his expertise, caring and friendship. He changed my life.

Vernon Collis

I have consulted Iain over an 8 year period with numerous complex sporting injuries. And I am a mid-50 busy sportsman. His diagnoses were spot on, his professionalism impeccable and every session resulted in resolution.
Iain is a friggin champion.

Mark Jacobs

With Iain I have walked a journey that involved:
1) learning all there is to learn about what is injured (personal engagement)
2) seeking to understand how the injury occurred, and why it would have occurred the way it did (using diagrams etc. (diagnostic)
3) describing options to remedy the problem (prognosis)
4) treating the injury
5) educating me about rehabilitation and recovery, with the option to come back after a time to review.
I have constantly been impressed by Iain’s desire to develop his knowledge in the field and beyond and by the range of treatment methods that he has successfully employed over time.
Iain has persisted in cases where the condition had become chronic, till there was marked improvement towards healing (a knee and calf in my case). (The personal touch makes all the difference to sustain the treatment)
I have, over the years referred a number of family and friends (and taken my athletes) to Iain and everyone has only the highest praise for him.
In a way, in Iain, we have the closest thing to a medical specialist in physiotherapy (the Dr House of Physiotherapy!)